Category Archives: It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

Happy Monday! I spent all of last week in lovely Cincinnati, Ohio attending the Ohio Library Council Conference and Expo. I am still trying to digest all the great information I picked up…and catch up on all the normal stuff I missed here at the library, so this check in will be short and sweet. I read some books. I listened to some books. I binged all of The Mindy Project. I am excited Supernatural season 10 dropped on Netflix. My friend got to meet Rainbow Rowell and she got me a signed copy of Carry On! That’s a pretty good week, if you ask me!

Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen-♥♥♥♥. This is a reimagining of the Peter Pan story, told from Hook’s point of view. Forget everything you thought knew about Neverland and Peter’s band of Lost Boys! This is a magical and fantastical adventure!

Stand Off by Andrew Smith-♥♥♥♥. This sequel to Winger starts with a new school year, Ryan Dean West’s senior year. In addition to having a claustrophobic 12-year old as a roommate, Ryan Dean struggles with the emotional aftermath of losing his best friend. This book did not engage me in the way Winger did, but I am not the target audience. Ryan Dean has an amazing teen voice and coping with anxiety is an important topic. A welcomed sequel.

Alex + Ada, vol. 3 by Sarah Vaughn-♥♥♥♥. The story arc that began with volumes 1 and 2 comes to a surprising conclusion. Fear and hatred of sentient robots is rising and Alex and Ada are in increasing danger. The events in this volume took me by surprise and I am intrigued to see where the story goes.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys-♥♥♥♥♥. As WWII draws to an end thousands of refugees look to escape East Prussia. The luxury ship Wilhelm Gustloff offers the promise of freedom. Among the refugees are Florian, Emilia, and Joana are among the crowd. They are all strangers and they all have secrets, but working together they may survive. This book is due out in February and you will want to grab it up the second you see it. Ruta Septys delivers another devastating work of historical fiction. Powerful and heartbreaking, she once again brings light to lesser known atrocities of WWII.

Current Audio:

I am almost finished with The Martian and I am currently between audiobooks on my phone. I can’t decide what I am in mood for right now.

Currently Reading:

This rarely happens, but today I get to pick all new books to read! I need to pick a print book and an e-book. I have so many choices my head is spinning! I think I am going to start with these:

Happy Monday! It’s a gorgeous day here in Cleveland and I have the day off. Lucky me! I have gotten my reading groove back and have read and listened to some great books this week. But first, a couple of bits of news. First, it’s time for another Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon! I missed the spring readathon because I was meeting my new nephew in April, but I am all registered for the October 17th event. You can sign up too! The second bit of news is that I was selected to be a judge for the Cybils Awards again. This time around I will be a Round 2 YA Speculative Fiction. There is still time to nominate titles, so head on over to the Cybil site if you are interested.

The others were all amazing! I am really loving the Ms. Marvel series and Lockwood & Co has taken an interesting turn. Walk the Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson is the first book in a new trilogy. Who new westerns could be so awesome? ♥♥♥♥♥ to all four!

As a librarian I respect everyone’s right to choose what is best for themselves. If you are offended by something, that is fine because you don’t have to read it! That’s your right and that is awesome. But please don’t try to tell other people they can’t either. How about you just worry about you? Ok? Thanks! Now, let me step off my soapbox and tell you what I have been reading.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts. Be sure to stop by for more great reading suggestions.

Finished:

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis-♥♥♥♥. Grace Mae is banished to an insane asylum when her family discovers she is pregnant. The events that led to her being in this condition were unspeakable, and therefore, Grace stopped speaking. Her silence became her salvation and with the help of a doctor she escaped to Ohio. She and the doctor worked together to prove that the new idea of criminal psychology could help solve crimes. This haunting historical fiction has some great twists and turn. I loved the characters, especially the girls at the Ohio asylum. Watch for this new book from local Ohio author when it comes out October 6th!

It’s a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt-♥♥♥♥. RJ wasn’t supposed to die that day, but when her soul is accidentally collected all hell breaks loose, so to speak, in the Afterlife. RJ demands to be sent back to life, but it’s not as simple as that. I will have a full review of this up soon! It’s a quick, fun read full of plenty of things to think about. Stay tuned. Or just trust me know, and add it to your reading list.

Current Audio:

I will be finished with both of these books in the next couple of days. I really like them both.

Currently Reading:

I am six books behind on my reading goal. I need to step up my games!

On Deck:

The Martian is “assigned” reading from a book club teen. I can’t wait to dig in to Stand Offand The Hero of Ages.

DNF:

I tried. I really tried.

TV binging:

…and this is why my reading is suffering! It’s time to grab a stack of graphic novels and binge on those!

Last week I had the great privilege of attending my second Teen Think Tank conference. This is an amazing group of Ohio Teen Librarians who get together twice a year to talk about teen services. It’s a day of learning, connecting, sharing, and crafting and it is such a valuable resource. I am really excited to try some of the Gross Games I learned about with my teens. I was inspired to add some technology activities to my after school repertoire and I picked up a couple of great craft ideas. One of the most informative presentations was about serving LGBTQ+ teens. I think I have a pretty solid collection of materials but I learned of a few more that I need to add. I myself presented a segment on feed teens on a budget. Basically a griddle and instant pancake mix will turn you into a hero among the teens. I add mini chocolate chips, eliminating the need for syrup and silverware! I have also made cheese quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches on my griddle, all at a fraction of the cost of bags of chips and bottles of pop. In fact, I have completely eliminated sugary beverages from all my programs. It’s all water, all the time and NO ONE has complained! Try it; it can’t hurt!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts. Be sure to stop over for more great reading suggestions!

Finished:

The Wrath and the Dawnby Renee Ahdieh-♥♥♥♥♥. The land of Khorasan is ruled by a monster. The young king takes a new bride each night and each morning a silk rope is wrapped around her neck. Sharhzad, who lost her best friend to this man, is out for revenge. She volunteers to be his next wife with the intention of killing him herself. In order to exact her revenge she needs to survive past dawn, so she begins to tell him a story, always leaving the next part for another night. I loved this one! Lovely storytelling, a gorgeous setting, and diverse characters. I am looking forward to listening to the second book.

Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore-♥♥♥♥♥. In this sequel to A Dirty Job, Moore picks up where he left off. The souls of San Fransisco are not being collected. The old crew is back in action with the help of a Golden Gate Bridge painter, who may be the key to figuring out who is stealing souls. Lewd, crude, and ridiculously funny. Not for the young reader, but I did just recommend the duology to one of my high school readers.

You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day-♥♥♥♥♥. Felicia Day is known in many circles at the Queen of the Nerds. In her memoir she talks at length about her love of gaming, her internet show The Guild, and her health issues. She reads the audiobook and it is truly delightful. This is a must read for fan, but people not familiar with her work can still appreciate her insight.

Current Audio:

Player of Games by Iain M. Banks. Occasionally I like to get recommendations from my teen readers. I have my book club kids write down two titles they think I should read and then I randomly select 1-2. This was my most recent pick. It’s super weird and the person who recommended it hasn’t read it himself. He just thought it would be something I like. At first I was teeny bit miffed (I thought you wanted me to read it so we could talk about it!) but then I realize I do that to them ALL THE TIME. Turnabout is fair play.

Lockwood & Co. 3: The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud. This series is great on audio and it is almost the perfect time of year for them! Teenage ghost hunters!

Currently Reading: I have been in a MAJOR reading slump.

A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis. I have been reading this one forever. It’s really good and I am enjoying it, I just have no time for digital ARCs right now. I should stop requesting them for a while!

Tonight the Streets Are Oursby Leila Sales. I love this author, so I hope this book with help me with my reading mojo!

On Deck:

What an awesome way to start a Monday! This lovely book arrived in the mail for me! The cover blurb is by Mike Mullin, author of the Ashfall Trilogy (LOVED that series!) and he says it is “A snarky joyride of a book with a deep moral core; long after you’ve finished laughing you’ll still be thinking about RJ’s journey and perhaps asking yourself: what defines a life well lived?”

Hello and Happy Monday! As you may have noticed my two weeks of vacation turned into three weeks of not blogging. Now that school has started again and I have packed my weekly schedule with tons of after school programs this seems like the *perfect* time to turn some attention to my neglected blog. *Sigh*

I am super excited about all the new after school programs we are offering this year. On Tuesdays I will be hosting an open lab in our state of the art computer training center. The large screen computers are perfect for playing games and Minecraft! This Wednesday will be the first meeting of the Library Literati, a new group for fans of all things bookish. Thursdays will be the Teen Scene. I’ll be flipping pancakes and have a casual activity available each week. This week’s activity will be Lego building challenges. No need to register, just stop in after school!

I had an amazing trip out west to visit my sister and her family (including my adorable new nephew). I woke up every morning to mama cows yelling outside the windows. We camped in Custer National Forest, did a day trip to Yellowstone, and spend many hot afternoons sitting in the creek on the farm. It was so relaxing and busy at the same time. I hardly did any reading, which was fine, but it turned into a slump when I returned home. In three weeks I have only finished six books and three of them were audiobooks!

Finished:

Unhinged by A.G. Howard- ♥♥♥. This second book in the Splintered trilogy has Alyssa trying to deal with Morpheus on her own turf. Wonderland is in trouble, but if Alyssa returns she will be in danger. If she stays Jeb and her family will be in danger. I am enjoying this series, but was disappointed to find that the last book is not available on audio. I suppose I will have to use my eyes to find out how things end!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling-♥♥♥♥♥. Three of my nephews are finally old enough to be reading Harry Potter for the first time! I am loving revisiting these beloved books.

Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont-♥♥♥♥. This debut novel tells the story of a family falling apart. Jack and Deb’s marriage is already rocky when an anonymous package arrives detailing all of Jack’s dirty little secrets. To make matters worse, his children were the first to discover the box. The cover quote saying it’s the funniest book ever is totally misleading. This one is not for the young reader.

Rocket Girl by Brandon Monclare-♥♥♥. This is the first volume of a new graphic novel series featuring a teen cop from the future who is sent back in time to 1986 to prevent a future disaster. The time line is a little wonky and hard to get used to, but the gadgets are cool and the characters are interesting. I will watching for more!

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson-♥♥♥♥♥. I finally took the plunge and started a new fantasy series. In a world covered with ash and ruled by an immortal god known as the Lord Ruler, one man has made it his life’s mission to destroy the final empire. At his side is a band of rebels and a street urchin who is unaware of the powers she possesses. This is an exciting opener to the series. Strong world building, well-developed characters, political intrigue, and a unique take on magic. In the world of the final empire magic is derived from metals. I dove into book two this morning!

Current Audio:

The Well of Ascensionby Brandon Sanderson. I decided to dive right into book two of The Final Empire series.

The Diviners by Libba Bray. I am rereading (first time listening) in preparation for Lair of Dreams.

Currently Reading:

Pretending to Be Ericaby Michelle Painchaud.

A Madness so Discreetby Mindy McGinnis

DNF:

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I don’t know why I didn’t click with this one. I gave up when it took a turn towards The Selection.

Hi All! Today was the drawing for the last summer reading basket. I can’t believe how fast that went! I had a record number of participants-207 teens. They read a combined 399 books and magazines. Now the back-to-school countdown begins. I am actually pretty excited about all the things I have planned for fall. You can find out all the plans at the library’s Back to School Breakfast Bar. We’ll have pancakes and waffles and all sorts of toppings. We’ll play games and talk about all the fun upcoming library programs.

I got a lot of reading/listening in last week, which is good because this week I am busy with G.I.S.H.W.E.S and next week I am on vacation! Check out what I’ve read:

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman-♥♥♥♥♥. Ove (pronounces Oova) is a gruff and grouchy man, but behind his curmudgeonly exterior is a sweet and sad story. His story slowly unfolds when new neighbors move in next door and disrupt is strict and orderly routine. I loved this book so, so, much. It’s sweet and quirky and sad. I laughed, I cried, and then started recommending it to anyone who would listen.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black-♥♥♥♥. In the town of Fairfold humans and fairies coexist, making the town a tourist stop. The main attraction is the horned boy locked in endless sleep in a glass coffin. Hazel and her brother Ben have always loved the boy. When he disappears, a strange and deadly chain of events is set into motion. I am not usually a fan of fae stories, but Holly Black is a master.

Fables vol. 21, Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham-♥♥♥♥. This is the penultimate volume of the series and story lines are getting wrapped up. Don’t worry, things aren’t wrapping up in a nice tidy manner! Things are pretty brutal and grim and the stage is set for one last epic battle.

These Shallow Gravesby Jennifer Donnelly-♥♥♥♥. It’s the Gilded Age in New York City and Josephine Montford is a young aristocrat destined to make a good match for marriage, when her father dies from an accidental gunshot. With his death, Jo’s world begins to crumble. With the help of a dashing reporter and a medical student who works at the morgue, Jo sets out on a dangerous path to discover the truth behind her father’s death. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book, which is due out in October. I really enjoyed the ending, but my one complaint is that fact that this book is really long. Unnecessarily long. It kind of dragged in the middle.

Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson-♥♥♥♥. Another totally weird graphic novel! Five best friends at camp keep stumbling upon strange things in the woods-strange three-eyed foxes, yetis guarding a tower, and a weird neighboring boys camp. Will the Lumberjane scouts figure out what in the world is going on? You won’t find out in this first volume, but you’ll want to know!